When planning to arrange a dinner party for family and friends, having to know how much meat per person is sufficient has always been a question mark. Estimating how much meat per person is required happens to be a tricky thing when arranging dinner. We provide you with a guide over how to solve this algorithmic equation.
While planning a dinner party, you need to take into consideration all the dishes and proportions you are going to serve. What you are going to serve in appetizers will affect the main course meat proportions. Side dishes and dessert which you are going to serve will also affect how much meat per person is required. If meat is going to be a part of appetizers, meat per person will decrease in the main course.
Planning your menu always comes first before fretting upon the serving proportions for an individual. Decide whether meat is going to be your main dish or is it part of a bigger portion, like some curry or Alfredo.
Also consider, what other side dishes you are going to serve your meat. This will greatly affect the proportion of how much meat per person is required. Proportions will fluctuate according to what other dishes you are going to serve along with meat. If you are serving something heavy alongside, like pasta or fried potatoes, meat per person will dropdown. Contrary to that, if you are serving something light and low calories to fibre ratios like sautéed veggies, salad, or roasted beans, meat proportions are again going to be variable.
YIELD:
Generally, meat, fish, and chicken tend to shrink about 20-25% on cooking. If you take 16 ounces of raw skinless chicken, that is about 1 pound, after cooking, it will yield almost 12 ounces of chicken. The reason for this shrinkage of meat could be explained by the fact that when meat protein is cooked, it releases its fat that either flows out or is burned, resulting in meat has a less fat content. Moreover, meat also releases water upon cooking that is evaporated, resulting in a reduction in the weight of the meat.
Make sure to take into consideration the shrinkage of meat when purchasing from the store. If you desire to end up with 4 steaks of 4 ounces each, you’ll have to buy about 20 ounces of raw meat. You’ll always need to buy some extra ounces because your meat is always going to look smaller in size compared to when you put it in the oven.
FACTORS TO CONTEMPLATE:
Deciphering that how much meat per person is required is never possible without taking certain factors into account. You need to keep these factors in mind in order to organize a good and sound dinner party. Following are the factors:
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Number of guests:
To estimate the total amount of meat required, you must first figure out how many people you are going to invite. Now, multiply the meat required per person with that of the number of people that are going to be present at a dinner party. Viola!
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Role of meat:
Is meat going to be part of a salad, or as a main dish, as part of a curry, or as an appetizer? What kind of meat you are using is largely going to affect the amount of meat required per person.
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If meat is the main:
When the meat is served as the main dish, mainly in steak form or individual cut portions, more of it is required per person. As a main dish, it is served in larger quantities. Having meat as the mainstream, we recommend about ½ pound per person that is about 8 ounces. For individuals with larger appetites, it may hoist to 12 ounces that would be ¾ a pound.
- If meat is part of a dish:
There is always a room when meat is served with some curry. The portion reduces to ¼ pound to 1/3 pound that will be around about 4 to 6 ounces per person. For persons having larger appetites, you may have to serve ½ kg (8 ounces) even with the curry.
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Kind of meat:
What kind of meat you are going to serve largely affects the proportions. Whether you are going to serve chicken, beef, mutton, pork, or turkey, all will have different proportions. Different meats have different energy contents, and thus the requirement varies.
HOW MUCH MEAT PER PERSON
PLANNING YOUR MENU:
Before going to purchase meat for your dinner, it is very important to prepare a list of what is going to be served. Each and every detail that one wishes to include should be mentioned, and the budget must be set. What will be served in appetizers, in the main course as secondary dishes, salads, and dessert? Then search for places where the meat goes in and distribute the proportions accordingly.
HOW MUCH MEAT PER PERSON FOR BBQ:
Barbecue is the most popular form of cooking at parties, dinners, and all kinds of family gatherings. It is regarded as the most convenient cooking method that gives you a delicious and flavorful meal. But before arranging a barbecue party, it is important to know how much meat per person per barbecue is required.
Generally, barbecue demands an adult serving of 6 to 8 ounces of meat per person for a total of the main course. Seafood also follows the same proportion of 6 to 8 ounces that turns out to be round about ½ pound.
HOW MUCH MEAT PER PERSON FOR TACOS:
Tacos are made up of a variety of fillings. It may contain veggies or meat. But most popularly, tacos are made from ground meat, which usually is beef. Otherwise, tacos can be made from seafood, pulled pork, or poultry.
On average, it takes 2 ounces to make a single taco, which means that one pound can make almost 8 tacos. If a person, on average, eats 4 tacos, you need to buy 8 ounces that are half of a pound per person.
HOW MUCH MEAT PER PERSON PER DAY:
To survive on the earth, we need an adequate supply of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats. Meat is a very good source of protein. Proteins are essential to make our bodies function normally. Protein is essential to maintain a healthy and full of energy lifestyle. A common source to obtain protein is meat, either in the form of beef, turkey, pulled pork, poultry, or seafood. An adult American on average, eats 0.6 pounds of meat per day. This amount of meat averages about 9.6 ounces.
HOW MUCH MEAT PER PERSON PER YEAR:
Americans are one of the leading consumers of meat. Meat is used in almost every dish, be it tacos, pizza, or an ordinary homemade meat dish. A survey done in America in 2018 revealed that an American on average consumes about 222 pounds a year. An average family of four members consumes about 888 pounds of meat, which we can range roughly from 700 to 1000 lbs.
HOW MUCH MEAT PER PERSON AT A PARTY:
When organizing a party, things should be managed in a very coordinative and systemic way. From preparing a guest list to deciding the menu, everything should be managed perfectly. Most important of all is the food that is to be served among the guests. You should properly decipher how much meat per person at a party is required. Following are some proportions and measurements about what type of meat should be served in what quantities.
MEAT |
QUANTITY PER PERSON |
| Spare ribs | 16 ounces / 1 lb. |
| Steak-boneless | 4 ounces / ¼ lb. |
| Steak-T bone | 6 ounces |
| Ground meat | 4 ounces / ¼ lb. |
| Chicken-Boneless | 4 ounces / ¼ lb. |
| Chicken-bone in | 6 ounces |
If meat is the main portion of the dish, serving meat portion per person will be increased. On the contrary, if the meat is served in some curry or as a part of pasta, the serving proportion will decrease. Moreover, if the meat is served additionally in snacks or appetizers, the proportions will again be decreased. Always consider such factors while planning everything out.
HOW MUCH MEAT PER PERSON FOR FONDUE:
Fondue is a Swiss melted cheese dish served over a portable stove. It is eaten by dipping bread into the cheese with a long-stemmed fork. Fondue is a signature dish, becomes more flavorful when meat is added to it. Generally,, beef or seafood is added to the fondue. About 1/3 or ½ pound is generally required for fondue per person. Meat is cut into small pieces and is put in the fondue.
HOW MUCH MEAT PER PERSON FOR PULLED PORK:
Pork is the most commonly consumed meat worldwide. It is very rich in fat content along with protein. Pulled pork is an American barbecue dish in which shredded pork shoulder is barbecued. On average, about 1/3rd of a pound is sufficient per person to serve pulled pork at a party or dinner.
CONCLUSION:
Always estimate how much meat is required per person before arranging a party or gathering. Decide the menu first, keep in mind the yield of the meat, buy meat and serve your guests accordingly.
Serving individual portions like steak will require more meat per person than meat being part of a dish such as a curry or pasta. If you have a limited budget, try not to serve individual portions, as it may cause you trouble requiring a larger quantity of meat.
Consider the dishes that are going to be served along with the main course. They definitely affect the proportions of the main course.
Try to balance your proportions. Neither would you want to over-serve and fluctuate your budget, nor would you like to be ashamed in front of your guests by underserving the food. It is all about balance.
Happiness is best served, slow-smoked and sauced!